In fact, Wenger was enticed by FIFA to take a role with football’s global governing body that will develop the technicalities of men’s and women’s football. His job title, Chief of Global Football Development, is something that he sees as an “extremely important challenge” to refine the technical aspects of ‘the beautiful game’.
Given that he seems to have a lot on his plate with FIFA, this appointment ended speculation that he was considering a return to management with German giants, Bayern Munich.
Wenger did hold talks with the club’s executive board chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, but his preference for a more executive role at FIFA suggests he may have decided to call it a day in club management for good.
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As part of his new role at FIFA, Wenger will also be appointed to a new technical panel of the International Football Association Board, as well as chairman of FIFA’s technical study group.
It’s fair to say that things haven’t really gone to plan for Arsenal since Wenger’s departure. Hope sprung eternal that the Gunners would thrive again under the tutelage of Wenger’s replacement, Unai Emery, but the Spaniard was fired in late 2019 to be replaced by a relative rookie, Mikel Arteta – a player Wenger signed for Arsenal back in 2011.
Arteta certainly has a big job on his hands to revive their fortunes this season. A glance at the outright markets for a top four EPL finish shows the Gunners as sixth favourites to sneak into a Champions League qualification spot, behind an improving Manchester United and bitter rivals, Tottenham.
Kanu’s charitable work outside of football
Since Kanu’s retirement, the former Super Eagles legend has dedicated considerable time to charity. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, and operates his very own heart foundation.
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The Kanu Heart Foundation is designed to specifically help young African kids with similar heart defects to the one Kanu discovered he had when playing for Inter Milan. When Kanu was nearing retirement, he sought to expand his charity’s work by providing much-needed aid for homeless youngsters throughout Africa.
Kanu took to Twitter with a heartbreaking story of one of the first beneficiaries of his heart foundation. 21-year-old Enitan was just two when she received the vital open heart surgery she desperately needed through Kanu’s foundation.
Nwankwo embraced Enitan as part of his family and was incredibly proud to watch her complete her university studies prior to returning to Nigeria for work. Unfortunately, Enitan contracted Malaria upon her return to the country and tragically passed away due to “complications”.
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Kanu’s foundation has been invaluable for hundreds of young children, with 538 kids to date being funded for open heart surgery in hospitals around the world, at a cost of $4.2 million.
Most of which has been raised via charitable donations. A man that gave so much joy and hope to a nation in his playing career, Kanu is now making the people of Nigeria proud with his love and commitment to his charities.
